The Open Innovation Exchange consortium who were nominated for The New Statesman New Media Awards, have made it through to the finals taking place on 24th July at Westminster Abbey College Gardens. This is fantastic news for the group, who developed and submitted an ‘open source’ bid (a first for a government tender) to the Office of the Third Sector to run the Innovation Exchange programme.  The bid was shortlisted, but did not win the contract. However, the ‘open’ approach applied to the bid has been widely recognised as a particularly innovative and refreshing method of engaging with partners and developing an application for funding.  The group also got a mention in The Society Guardian as an example of ICT being used to ‘bond, share and aid collaboration’. Originally nominated in the Modernising Government category, the Open Innovation Exchange is now up for a Contribution to Civic Society award.  Other contenders in this category are “politics for adults” Internet TV station 18 Doughty Street; the really useful FixMyStreet site from MySociety; and No. 10 Downing Street Petitions also from MySociety.

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27 July 2007
© ruralnet|uk

‘Naked Group’ are New Media Award finalists for the Open Innovation Exchange. The Open Innovation Exchange consortium who were nominated for The New Statesman New Media Awards, have made it through to the finals taking place on 24th July at Westminster Abbey College Gardens. This is fantastic news for the group, who developed and submitted an ‘open source’ bid (a first for a government tender) to the Office of the Third Sector to run the Innovation Exchange programme. The bid was shortlisted, but did not win the contract. However, the ‘open’ approach applied to the bid has been widely recognised as a particularly innovative and refreshing method of engaging with partners and developing an application for funding.  The group also got a mention in The Society Guardian as an example of ICT being used to ‘bond, share and aid collaboration’. Originally nominated in the Modernising Government category, the Open Innovation Exchange is now up for a Contribution to Civic Society award.  Other contenders in this category are “politics for adults” Internet TV station 18 Doughty Street; the really useful FixMyStreet site from MySociety; and No. 10 Downing Street Petitions also from MySociety.

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© ruralnet|uk

‘Naked Group’ are New Media Award finalists for the Open Innovation Exchange. The Open Innovation Exchange consortium who were nominated for The New Statesman New Media Awards, have made it through to the finals taking place on 24th July at Westminster Abbey College Gardens. This is fantastic news for the group, who developed and submitted an ‘open source’ bid (a first for a government tender) to the Office of the Third Sector to run the Innovation Exchange programme. The bid was shortlisted, but did not win the contract. However, the ‘open’ approach applied to the bid has been widely recognised as a particularly innovative and refreshing method of engaging with partners and developing an application for funding.  The group also got a mention in The Society Guardian as an example of ICT being used to ‘bond, share and aid collaboration’. Originally nominated in the Modernising Government category, the Open Innovation Exchange is now up for a Contribution to Civic Society award.  Other contenders in this category are “politics for adults” Internet TV station 18 Doughty Street; the really useful FixMyStreet site from MySociety; and No. 10 Downing Street Petitions also from MySociety.

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© ruralnet|uk

Migrant poverty rather than immigration status will put increased pressure on social housing in the capital a study by leading housing academics has claimed. The London School of Economics report says that new migrants to London are less likely than the established population to need or access social housing. Demand is most likely to come from poorer migrants and successful asylum seekers who decide to settle in the city. The impact of recent immigration on the London economy says that new migrants initially form fewer separate households than their indigenous counterparts. They also live disproportionately in private-rented accommodation, putting less pressure on the social housing sector. Poorer migrants and asylum seekers who opt to settle and have children could put increased pressure on housing supply ‘for many years to come,’ it states.

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11 July 2007
© Inside Housing

Voluntary organisations are encouraged to take part in a consultation on how England’s National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) is governed. NCVO proposes to reduce the size of its management board from 40 members to 12, and create an Assembly to reflecting the breadth of its’ membership. Running to 6th July, there is an online questionnaire; or see the press release at http://www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/press/releases/?id=4522

Country/Regional Focus: UK

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13 April 2007
© Voluntary News

The West Midlands Rural Affairs Forum proposes innovative and radical solutions to the provision of rural affordable housing across the region for the future. The Forum launched a major initiative, following the publication of the Affordable Rural Housing Commission report and established its own task group to ascertain how the four recommendations made might best be delivered within the West Midlands. The Forum has put forward proposals to significantly increase both the rate and volume of affordable homes to people living and working in rural communities.

Country/Regional Focus: England, West Midlands

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11 April 2007
© Department for Environment, Food And Rural Affairs

English Heritage gives grant to St Antony’s Catholic Club to repair Red House and open it up to local community - English Heritage has awarded a grant of £45,000 today (11th April) for repairs to the historic Red House, 13 Upton Lane, Forest Gate. St Antony’s Catholic Club, the owners of the18th century building, applied for the funding to assist in their plans to open the building up to the local community. The Red House is a grade ll listed building in the old village of Upton, and, apart from the nearby Spotted Dog Pub, is the only historic building of note in the area. The original building dates from 1717, and while some brickwork from the 1760s remains, it was extensively remodeled in the1880s. Its first inhabitant was a Dutch merchant Isaac Blihdesteyn, and it was later owned by a Mr Tuthill who manufactured early trade union banners. St Antony’s Catholic Club bought the building from Mr Blihdesteyn’s descendants in 1933.

Country/Regional Focus: England

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11 April 2007
© English Heritage (London)

Children from Middlesbrough, South Tyneside and Darlington will be very publicly calling upon the small minority of people who think it is acceptable to act anti-socially on our streets and in our towns to change their ways and take responsibility for their actions. Competitions are being run in schools in Middlesbrough, South Tyneside and Darlington and 17 others across England which have received nearly £500,000 funding from the Government’s Respect Task Force to introduce innovative new ‘Talking CCTV’, aimed at getting the public to reflect on their behaviour and the example they are setting to others, especially children. The competitions and activities, such as designing posters that challenge bad behaviour and taking part in neighbourhood litter picks, help educate children about acceptable behaviour while at the same time they are encouraged to use their ‘pester power’ in a positive way - reminding grown-ups how to behave. The winning schoolchildren will be invited to become the ‘voice’ of the Talking CCTV in their town or city’s CCTV control room later this year. Talking CCTV allows operators to talk directly to those involved, when they spot irresponsible behaviour, asking people to stop doing something or to make amends.

Country/Regional Focus: England, North East

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12 April 2007
© Home Office

A wealth of guidance and practical help will be on offer to small and medium sized enterprises at an event to be held at Market Rasen in Lincolnshire. Free information on a wide range of topics - from income tax and VAT to importing and exporting procedures, smoke free environment law and funding for growing businesses - will be available at the HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) Business Advice Open Day at Market Rasen Race course on Thursday 26 April 2007. Organised by HMRC, the Open Day brings together a wide variety of organisations under one roof and is a unique opportunity to obtain quality advice in a relaxed and informal setting.

Country/Regional Focus: England, Lincolnshire

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© HM Revenue & Customs (East)